Planet Ice – Skydome Complex

 Planet Ice – Skydome Complex

by Pete Clemons

Girls Aloud

Electronic, drum and bass duo Chase and Status will be appearing at Planet Ice in Coventry on November 26th 2021. Not that I know the first thing about Chase and Status, or drum and bass for that matter, but seeing the advert for them sent my mind wandering. And it went back to a time when my own children were growing up and going for their own nights out to see bands at Planet Ice situated within the Skydome Complex.

The 3000 seater capacity Ice Skating arena building opened during 1999. A little time after the rest of the Skydome complex if I remember correctly. It was all built on the site of the old GEC Spon Street factory which was where I began my own working life.

By 2001 and the Planet Ice venue saw the launch of a large music event hosted by local radio station Mercia Sound/FM to celebrate the station's 21st birthday. The concert also doubled up as a major charity event where it was decided that proceeds raised would go to Snowball a trust set up for sick and disabled children in Coventry and Warwickshire.

As I remember it was the then Mercia FM morning crew of Shep and Ru, who woke up Coventry and Warwickshire every weekday from 6am, who were compère's for the evening. It was their job to introduce the pop stars of the day. And for that inaugural event those included Blue, Hear'Say, Honeyz and Phats and Small appeared at the event which by now was known as The Thunderball concert. And the sell-out event raised £20,000.

Following on from its success a similar event was staged in 2002. And again thousands packed the arena where chart toppers Atomic Kitten, the trio of Liz McClarnon, Natasha Hamilton and Jenny Frost, took to the stage along with H and Claire from Steps, Blazin Squad, Sarah Whatmore and many others.

2003 and a third event was held. This time it attracted the likes of Gareth Gates, Amy Studt, Kym Marsh, Lemar and Take That's Mark Owen.

And in 2004 a fourth and final Thunderball concert took place. This time it headlined Girls Aloud. A group that was put together by a panel of judges that included Pete Waterman. Cheryl Tweedy, Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding (who I was saddened to hear had passed away recently), Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh made up the group that scored a huge number of hits. Further pop acts of the day including boy band Phixx, R&B artist Jay Sean, The 411 and the Intenso Project featuring Lisa Scott Lee joined the headliners.

Over the course of the four years, that the Mercia FM's Thunderball event was held, it was estimated that it had raised £80,000 for charity's working with sick and disabled children. Additionally the Thunderball event left a lot of precious memories for many from the Coventry area.

Many of the above artists mentioned above have proved to be multi talented. Some have now reached the stage of life where the pop world is way behind them and they now do TV work. I even noticed that there was a special episode of the Pointless quiz show recently which was dedicated to artists from that era.

Good luck to Chase and Status when you appear at the Skydome Complex. Hope you enjoy your time in Coventry as many others did.